The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-09-06

obtain. The Treasury was full for
coronation, big salaries, and foreign
mission tlummery, but never cent
for the hall-starved wretches who
had been driven from their homes.
Ministries came and Ministries
went, until the fates brought the
Legislature 1886 into existence. The
Cabinet brought in an appropriation
bill, but although they had made
promises enough to make them
black in the face, no item appeared
for the Makiki claimants. A bill
making provision for the payment
of the claims was introduced by a
member from one of the other
islands, and Notwithstanding the
strenuous opposition of the member
from Honolulu, j. Keau, was passed
by a large majority. Well, then,
what next! 1t was signed and be-
came law? mot much it didn't"
The patriotic crowd who ran the
machine at that time needed the
money to keep the Board of Genoa
logy well polished, and to pay lot
of military salaries that never had
been heard of before, and the fate
of the nation depended upon get
ting the Kaimioa into shape, there
fore the Makiki claims Till was
pigeon-holed, and neither signed
nor vetoed. The Legislature adj
iourned and 1886 passed. Five
sets of Ministers had taken their
seats since the Makiki claimants
were evicled; each promised pay
ment and each broke the promise.
Eighteen hundred and eighty-seven
came in and still the claimants starv-
ed and sqnatted on vacant lots for
a living. Two Germans laid theiI
claims before their consul, and the
matter was made a diplomatic one
with threat of action on the part
OF Germany if the Hawaiian Govern
ment did not meet its obligations TO
German citizens. The first half of
1887 passed and not one cent had
been paid, although the Cabinet re-
pratedly promised to do so, and
actually passed Cabinet resolution
TO pay the money, and ask the
next Legislature to indemnify them.
But the Kaimioa had to 90 to Sa-
moa and the Palace Gates had to be
fixed, and other necessary and use
full objects absorbed all the money.
The new Ministry came in and
found things in this condition. Al
though there were many objects re-
curing the immediate use of all the
funds available, the equitable rights
of the claimants were considered TO
be paramount to all other claims
upon the Treasury. 1t was dis
honor and a stain upon the good
name of the country that unoffcnding
itizrns should be robbed of their
al 10y the mere right of might, and
that in defiance Of right and com.
mon decency they should be bluffed
out of their just dues for five years,
simply because they did not have
the physical power to enforce their
just dues.
Under the circumstances the Min
istry felt justified in paying the
claims, and making an indemnity
account of the item, 10 be submitted
to the next Legislature. If the
next Legislature think the amount so
expended should have been used in
paying the running expenses of the
Samoan Legation for another month,
and that this was an improper use
to make of the money, they will say
so. If the next Legislature is com
posed of patriots of the Poepoe-
Rosa stripe this will probably be
done. But if the Reform party |
out ahead they will probably |
endorse the policy of paying honest
debts first and sitting down on sine